Inking mechanism for printing presses



Nov. 17, 1936. R. .MIEHLE I INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. 19, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 r ATTORNEYS NOV. 17, 1936. R L'E INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES 4 sneaks-sheet 3 Filed Fb. 19, 1952 I N V EN TOR. Robe/ f fl/lldi M )M A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1936.

R. MIEHLE INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. 19, 1932 m M m 0 H il \ 1 I iiillll N a w Q U, s I m N Q a Q Q Q @N Mk s \o N 7 s N 'illlllllllllll RN N Patented Nov. 17, 1936 STATEb PATENT QFFHQE INKING MECHANISM FOR. PRINTING PRESSES ceased Application February 19, 1932, Serial No. 593,972

26 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to reciprocating bed and cylinder printing processes, and has for its main object the provision of a novel, convenient and effective inking mechanism particul-arly adapted for this type of printing press, which adequately and uniformly inks the printing form without necessitating an excessive distance of bed travel or, conversely, adequately and uniformly inks a relatively long form with a given distance of bed travel.

With this object in View my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said object and certain other objects, hereinafter appearing, are effected, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the said drawings Figure 1 is apartial side elevation of a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press embodying my invention with parts omitted and broken away.

Figure 2 is a front end elevation of the same with parts omitted, broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is another partial side elevation of the same with parts omitted and broken away;

Figure 4 is another partial side elevation of the same with parts omitted and broken away;

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view in end elevation similar to Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged partial view of a portion of the mechanism in elevation similar to Figure 5;

Figure '7 is an enlarged partial sectional view .of another portion of the mechanism in elevation similar to Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of another portion of the mechanism with parts broken away and shown in section; and.

Figure 9 is an enlarged partial section on the line 9-9 of Figure 2..

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, I designates a two revolution impression cylinder and 2 designates a reciprocating bed which carries a form 3 from which sheets on the impression cylinder are printed during stroking of the bed in the rearward direction, i. e., to the left in Figures 1, 3

and i, the cylinder rotating in a corresponding direction and being lifted out of contact with the form during forward stroking of the bed, all as 5 is usual.

ill, engaging against the blocks ii to provide Figure 1 shows the bed at the front reversal thereof preparatory to its rearward or printing stroke, Figure 3 shows the bed at the rear reversal thereof preparatory to its forward or nonprinting stroke, and Figure 4 shows the bed at an 5 intermediate point of its rearward or printing stroke.

The main frame of the press includes usual side frames 4, and the bed 2 is reciprocated by a suitable reciprocating mechanism, not shown, 10 while the cylinder l is driven in timed relation with the bed by suitable gearing, not shown, as is usual.

Mounted on the rear ends of the side frames t are feed board frames 5, lower portions 6 of 15 which extend forwardly and support an ink fountain l, which is inclusive of a fountain roller ii, spaced upwardly from the plane of the bed 2 and under which the bed passes. I

Arranged between the lower portions 6 of the 20 feed board frames and the cylinder l is a rear form roller frame comprising frames 9 arranged at opposite sides of the bed and secured at their rear or outer ends to a transverse shaft H which is journaled on the lower portions 6 of the feed 25 board frames for pivotal movement of the rear form roller frame vertically. See Figures 3 and 4.

Mounted on this rear form roller frame is a group of composition form rollers, as shown, comprising a roller l2 adjacent the cylinder and a 30 pair of rollers l3 arranged rearwardly of the roller l2. The rollers !3 are mounted on the roller frame by means of suitable adjustable sockets or forked bearings M, and the roller [2 is mounted on the roller frame by means of bearing levers. 35 i5 coaxially pivoted intermediately, as designated at It, on adjustable blocks ll mounted on the frames 9 and provided with forked bearings I8 at their upper ends in which the roller I2 is journaled. I

The lower position of the roller [2, with reference to the form roller frame, is adjustably fixed by set screws l9 screwthreaded through the levers l5 and, secured in adjusted position by lock nuts stops, the angular positioning of the levers l 5 being controlled as hereinafter described. See Figures l, 3, 4, 5 and 7.

When the rear form roller frame is in its lower 50 position, as determined by legs 2! thereof engaging downwardly on the side frames 4, and the roller 52 is in its lower position with reference to the roller frame, as determined by the set screws is engaging the blocks ll, the rollers l2 and I3 55 are in form contacting position for inking the form 3 during reciprocation of the bed 2.

Pivotally mounted rearwardly on the rear form roller frame above the aforesaid form rollers is a distributor roller frame comprising frames 22 arranged at opposite sides of the bed and secured at their rear ends by a hollow shaft 23 which is journaled on the frames 9 for pivotal movement of the distributor roller frame into and out of distributor and form roller contacting position. The lower position of the distributor roller frame with reference to the form roller frame, which is the distributor and form roller contacting position thereof, is determined by abutting lugs 24 on the frames 9 and 22, and the form and distributor roller frames are locked in this relative position by a hand operated hook lever 25 pivoted on the form roller frame and engaged over a stud 23 on the inner end of the distributor roller frame, see Figures 1 and 4, the lever 25 being releasable from the stud 26 to permit upward movement of the distributor roller frame to separate the distributor rollers, hereinafter described, carried by the distributor roller frame, from the form rollers I2 and I3, see Figure 3.

The distributor roller frame is counterbalanced by spring devices generally designated at 21, and the upper position of this frame is determined by a stop arm 28 secured on the shaft 23 and engaging a stop 29 on the adjacent frame 9.

The distributor roller arrangement for the form rollers l2 and I3 is as follows: See Figures 1, 3 and 4.

A metal distributor roller 30 is journaled on the distributor roller frame and contacts both of the rollers l3, and a composition distributor roller 3| is carried by the distributor roller frame and contacts the roller 38.

A metal distributor roller 32 is journaled on the distributor roller frame and contacts only the roller i2 of the rear form rollers, and two composition rollers 33 are carried by the distributor roller frame and both of these rollers 33 contact the roller 32, the rollers 3| and 33 being journaled in suitable forked bearings 34 adjustably mounted on the distributor roller frame for adjustment of the rollers 3| and 33 to properly contact the rollers 33 and 32.

Journaled on the frames 22 above the rollers 33 is a transverse shaft 35 upon which are secured parallel arms 33, and journaled at the free ends of these arms is a metal ink roller 31 of relatively small diameter contacting the roller 3|. The roller 3? with pivotal movement of the shaft 35 and arms 36 has a movement tangential with the roller 3|, while maintaining contact therewith, into and out of contact with the adjacent roller 33, see Figures 1 and 4, and is yieldably urged and normally maintained out of contact with the adjacent roller 33 in the following manner.

Secured on the outside of one of the frames by means of headed screws 38, is a bored socket member 358 closed at its lower end. See Figures 4 and 8. The upper screw 38 passes diametrically through the bore of the socket member, and disposed in the said bore is a helical compression spring 4| which is tensioned between the bottom of the bore of the socket memand the upper screw 33.

Slidably engaged in the upper end of the socket member 39 is a plunger 42 the lower portion of which is diametrically slotted to clear the upper screw 38 for movement of the plunger in engagement with the spring 4|.

The socket member 33 is disposed correspondingly with the movement of the roller 31, and the outer ends of the corresponding arm 36 is provided with an adjustment screw 43 engaged by the outer end of the plunger 42 so that the spring 4| yieldably urges and normally maintains the roller 3| out of contact with the adjacent roller 33, as shown in Figure 4, the roller 31 and arms 33 being adapted to be manually positioned in an upper position, as shown in broken lines in Figure 4, for accessibility. If desired the screw 43 may be adjusted so that the roller 31 remains in contact with the adjacent roller 33, thus continuously connecting the otherwise separate groups of form and distributor rollers.

A compositon ductor roller 44 is journaled at the free ends of transversely spaced arms 45 which are secured on a transverse shaft jour naled in the hollow shaft 23. As so carried the ductor roller 44 is movable to alternately contact the roller 8 of the ink fountain I, see Figure 3, and the roller 3! and to periodically move this roller 31 into contact with the adjacent distributor roller 33, against the influence of the springs 4 for the transfer of ink from the ductor roller to the roller 31 and from it to the distributor roller 30 and to the adjacent distributor roller 33, as shown in Figure 1.

As the ductor roller moves toward the ink fountain, the roller 31, under the influence of the springs 4|, moves out of contact with the adjacent roller 33.

The roller 44 is oscillated from the press mechanism in timed relation therewith in a usual manner not shown, to alternately contact the fountain roller 8 and the roller 31 and to periodically contact the roller 31 with the adjacent distributor roller 33.

The roller 3'! serves in the nature of an additional distributor roller for the group of rollers comprising the form rollers l3 and the distributor rollers 30 and 3|, it being in constant contact with the roller 3| and being of relatively small diameter it serves to break up the ink on this group of rollers and in transferring it onto the adjacent distributor roller 33.

Pivotally mounted on the shaft 35 adjacent the arms 36 is a pair of arms on the free ends of which is journaled a metal distributor roller 4 of relatively small diameter which, as shown, contacts the distributor roller 33 adjacent the cylinder and being of relatively small diameter serves to break up the ink on the group of rollers comprising it, the distributor rollers 33 and 32 and the form roller l2.

The arms 46 are adjustably secured with the distributor roller frame by means of headed bolts 48 extending through bores through the frames 22 and wing nuts 49 screwthreaded on the bolts 48 and clamping circumferential hub flanges of the arms 46 between the heads of these bolts and the ends of bosses 52 on the frames 22 and extending said bores. See Figures 1, 5 and 6.

If desired, the roller 33 adjacent the cylinder i may be removed, in which case the arms 43 are positioned to contact the roller 47 with the other roller 33, as shown in broken lines in Figure 4.

An additional metal distributor roller 50 is disposed immediately to the rear of the rear form roller I3 and contacts the same and is journaled in bearings which are mounted on the frames 9 for adjustment to position the roller 5|] in contact with the rear roller l3, this roller 5|] being removable transversely by removing one of the bearings 60.

The distributor and form rollers are driven with the bed, as hereinafter described, and preferably, the ductor roller 44 contacts the roller 3? and causes the roller 31 to contact the adjacent roller 33 at a time when the charge of ink therefrom is well distributed before the form rollers next contact the form 3, as when the bed is at the front end of its movement, see Figure 1, it being preferable that the ductor roller moves into the position shown in Figure 1 while the bed is still on its forward stroke, so that the roller 3'! first brings the new charge of ink to the adjacent roller 33.

The bed 2 is provided with a downwardly facing rack 53 on its under side, see Figures 4 and 5, and a transverse shaft 54, disposed in the region of the mid point of the travel of the bed, is journaled on the press frame and has a gear 55 secured on its inner end, which gear meshes constantly with the rack 53, so that the shaft 54 is rotated in one direction with the travel of the bed in one direction and is rotated in the opposite direction with travel of the bed in the opposite direction.

Secured on the outer end of the shaft 54 on the outside of one of the side frames 4 is a gear 56 which meshes with an idler gear 51 rotatably mounted on the adjacent frame 4, as indicated at 58, see Figures 1 and 5.

The distributor rollers 30 and 32 have gear pinions 59 secured on ends thereof, which mesh with the gear 57, so that their roller groups are driven with the bed, the pinions 59 disengaging from the gear 51 when the distributor roller frame is moved to its upper position, as hereinbefore described, and engaging the gear 51! when the distributor roller frame is moved to its lower position, as shown in Figure 1.

By reason of the pivotal mounting of the form roller frame by means of the shaft H, all of the form rollers l2 and i3 can be moved out of form contacting position, as shown in Figure 3, while maintaining distributor roller contact thereof, the distributor roller frame being lifted with the form roller frame.

By reason of the mounting of the form roller I 2 on the bearing levers [5, this roller may be moved into and out of form contacting position independently of the form rollers l3 while maintaining distributor roller contact of the roller if, this roller l2 having a substantially tangential movement with reference to the distributor roller 32 in its independent movement into and out of form contacting position whereby distributor roller contact is maintained.

The movement of all the form rollers l2 and I3 and the independent movement of the roller l2 into and out of form contacting position is effected in timed relation with the press mechanism or reciprocation of the bed as follows.

The press is provided with a usual transverse single revolution shaft which is journaled in the side frames 4 and driven from the press mechanism in a usual manner unnecessary to be described. See Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5. Secured on the shaft 6| on the outside of one of the side frames is a radial cam 62, and secured against the outer face of the cam 62 is a second radial cam 63. The cam 63 is adjustably secured with the cam 62 for varying the timing of the cam 53 with the press mechanism or reciprocation of the bed, by means of headed screws 64 passing through angular slots 65 through the cam 63 and screwthreaded into the cam 52, for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

A transverse rock shaft 66 is journaled in the side frames 4 adjacent the shaft GI, and has a lever 61 intermediately secured on the end thereof adjacent the cams 62 and 63, which lever is provided at one end thereof with a cam roller 58 alined with the cam 63 and adjacent the other end thereof with a cam roller 69 alined with the cam 62, the latter end of the lever being Weighted as designated at H to yieldably urge the lever in the direction to engage the cam roller 68 with the cam 63. The other end of the rock shaft 66 is provided with an arm 12, and this arm and the lever 61 are provided with alined crank studs 13.

Pivotally secured at their upper ends on the inner portions of the frames 9 of the form roller frame, as designated at T4,,are connecting bars E5 the lower ends of which are forked, as designated at 16, and engage the crank studs 13 so that movement of the lever 61 by the cam 62 acting on the roller 69 effects upward movement of the connecting bars (5 to lift the form roller frame and position all of the form rollers l2 and Hi out of form contacting position, the cam 62 being provided with an active portion T1 for effecting the positioning of the form rollers l2 and I3 out of form contacting position, as shown in Figure 3.

The portion ll of the cam 62 is so timed with reference to reciprocation of the bed that the form rollers l2 and i3 are positioned out of form contacting position during the rear reversal of the bed, see Figure 3, during which the form underlies these form rollers, to prevent the form rollers from slipping on the form, the lift of the form roller frame not being suflicient to disengage the pinions 55 from the gear 51 with the result that the distributor rollers-30 and 32 and the rollers connected therewith continue to be driven with the bed and are reversed therewith, and the back lash in the gearing serving to change the angular position of the form rollers with reference to the form at the reversals of the bed, which serves to insure imperfections or foreign matter on the form roller contacting diiferent portions of the form.

An eccentric i8 is pivotally mounted on one of the side frames A and is provided with a handle 9 for manual operation of the eccentric into and out of position engaging under a lateral extension 8i on the adjacent bar 15 to position the rear form roller frame with the form rollers l2 and if! out of form contacting position for the running of the press to distribute ink on the form and distributor rollers without inking the form in starting up the press and for preventing fiattening of the form rollers on the form while the press is not running.

The forked lower ends 16 of the bars 75 engaging the studs 73, due to the weight of the form roller frame, serve to normally position the lever 33 and attached parts in an intermediate position against the influence of the weight H, and permit independent movement of the lever 57 and attached parts in the direction of actuation of this lever by the cam 53 acting on the roller 58.

Pivotally mounted at their lower ends on the crank studs '53, are connecting bars 82, and the upper ends of these bars are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the levers l5 in the following manner. See Figures 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7.

The upper ends of the bars 82 are longitudinally slotted, as designated at 83, and crank studs 84, mounted on the lower ends of the levers I5 are engaged in these slots for pivotal and sliding movement. Coiled compression springs 85 are pocketed on the bars 82 and engage upwardly against the lower ends of the levers I5 to yieldably urge the crank studs 84 upwardly in the slots 83. Set screws 86, provided with lock nuts 8?, are screwthreaded through the upper ends of the bars 82 and engage downwardly on the crank studs 8 s for adjusting these studs with reference to the bars 82.

Accordingly, movement of the lever 61 and attached parts, by reason of the cam 63 actuating the roller 68, causes pivotal movement of the levers IE to move the roller I2 into and out of form contacting position independently of the rollers i3, see Figures 1 and 4, the roller I2 maintaining distributor roller contact in its independent movement into and out of form contacting position, just as do all of the form rollers I2 and it in the movement of the form roller frame into and out of form contacting position.

The shaft Si is driven in a counter-clockwise direction in Figures 1, 3 and 4, and the timing of the cam 653 is such that the roller I2 initially contacts the form intermediately thereof or the trailing portion of the form during the rearward stroke of the bed or the stroke of the bed in the direction from the cylinder I toward the form rollers, the form roller I2 substantially clearing the form at the rear reversal of the bed and contactilr the entire form during the forward or opposite stroke of the bed.

Accordingly, the form rollers I3 supply one portion of the form with a fresh charge of ink and the form roller I 2, initially contacting a por- 1 of the form different from that initially contacted by the form rollers I3, supplies the other portion of the form with a fresh charge of ink, so that the charging of the form is correspondingly more uniform, one or more of the rollers I 3 rolling over a part of the portion of the form initially contacted by the roller I2 and picking up ink therefrom for further distribution over the form, and all of the form rollers I2 and I3 contacting the form on the forward stroke of the bed for further distribution of the ink on the form.

It will be seen that the groups of form and distributor rollers, one group comprising the rollers 52, 32, 33 and ll and the other group comprising the rollers I3, 36, 3|, 3! and 50 are separate and are periodically connected, remote from the form rollers I2 and 53, for the charging thereof by the ductor roller 44 as before described. This connection and charging of the separate groups of roliers takes place while the form is not contacted by the form rollers, so that neither group takes ink from the other group during the inking of the form.

The adjustment of the cam 63 serves to accommodate the timing of the independent movement of the form roller l2 into form contacting position for such conditions as varying lengths of forms, it being contemplated that this roller makes approximately one revolution on the trailing portion of the form during the rearward stroke of the bed.

In order to aid in the distribution of the ink on the form and to ink the front portion of a relatively long form, such as one whose length approximates the uniform travel of the bed, the following is provided: See Figures 1 and 2.

Disposed in the region of the front end of the bed when the bed is disposed at the front reversal thereof and spaced downwardly from the plane of the bed, is a transverse shaft 83 journaled on the side frame 4.

A front form roller frame comprises frames 89 arranged on opposite sides of the bed 2 and provided with downwardly extending arms 9| which are secured on the shaft 88 and are provided below this shaft with a counterbalancing weight in the form of a large piece of shafting 92 having its ends pocketed on the lower ends of the arms 9|, as designated at 93.

Mounted on this front form roller frame is a group of composition form rollers 94, the mounting consisting in suitable adjustable sockets or upwardly open forked bearings 95 which are mounted for adjustment along the frames 89, as designated at 96, to provide for the setting of the form rollers at desired angles, as shown in Figure l, to effect side vibration thereof, these rollers having side play as is usual for this purpose.

The pivotal mounting of the front form roller frame, by means of the shaft 83, provides for movement of the same and with it the form rollers 94 from normal position with these form rollers in form contacting position adjacent the front side of the cylinder I, as shown in full lines in Figure l, to a tilted position adjacent the outer end of the bed when the bed is at the front reversal of its movement, as shown in broken lines in Figure l.

The front form roller frame is positioned in its said normal position by means of a stop lug 91 on one of the side frames 4 being engaged by the adjacent arm 9i and an eccentric Q8 pivotally mounted on the other side frame being engaged by the other arm 9 i, the eccentric being provided with a handle 99 by means of which it may be operated to lift the front roller frame slightly to disengage the front form rollers from the form and prevent flattening of the front form rollers on the form when the press is not operated. The other position of this form roller frame is determined by extensions Illll on the arms 9i engaging a front cross member I M of the press frame, the major weight of this roller frame and parts carried thereby being forward of the pivotal center thereof in this position to retain the same with the extensions I08 engaging the cross member I 0 I.

When the front roller frame is positioned in its outer position, as shown in broken lines in Figure 1, access is provided to the form 3 on the bed 2, while the bed is positioned at the front end of its movement with the form underlying the inking position of the front form rollers, for inspection, adjustment removal and installation of the form from a side of the press, it being observed that this roller frame clears a usual conveyor tape structure I82 extending forwardly from the cylinder above the bed and front form roller mechanism and supported at its front end on upwardly extending supports I03 for pivotal movement into an upright position, as indicated in broken lines in Figure l, to permit access to the form from above. The elevated position of the form 3 for removal and installation thereof over one of the bearers I of the bed, is indicated at I I3 in Figure l.

The front form rollers 94 are frictionally driven from the bed by means of wide friction rolls I04 secured on the stocks of these rollers and frictionally engaging one of the bearers m5 of the bed and a friction member I06 secured on the outer side of this bearer and outwardly extending the surfaces thereof, the inner end portion of the member H36 being inclined upwardly and rearwardly, as designated at IN, to lift the form roller 94 adjacent the cylinder out of engagement with the form during the front reversal of the bed, it being observed that this is the last roller to traverse the form previous to the printing contact.

The bed 2 carries a short ink plate I08 at the front end of the form which is contacted by the -front form rollers 94 for the distribution of ink on these rollers. The friction member I06 and the adjacent bearer I05 are extended forwardly to contact the rolls I04 while these form rollers are in contact with the ink plate and are extended forwardly therefrom with a forwardly and downwardly slanted portion I09 for the gradual lifting and lowering of these form rollers.

In order to prevent undue spinning of the rollers 94 at the front reversal of the bed when these rollers do not overlie the form, the forked bearings 95, at the ends of these rollers adjacent the rolls I04, are provided with inwardly projecting downwardly disposed segment formations III which have their concave surfaces facing upwardly to be frictionally engaged by reduced outer end portions H2 of the rolls I04 of sufiicient size to check the spinning of these rollers. See Figures 2 and 9.

During the period when the rollers 94 are engaged on the form or ink plate and the rolls I04 are engaged on the underlying bearer I05 and the friction member I06, the adjacent ends of the rollers 94 are raised slightly so that the portions III! of the rolls are not engaged with the forma- -tions III, the rollers being free to be reversed by the rolls I04 engaging the underlying bearer I05 and the friction member I06 at the rear reversal of the bed.

During the period when the rollers 94 are not engaged on the form or ink plate and the rolls I04 not engaged on the underlying bearer I 05 and the friction member I06, the adjacent ends of the rollers 94 are in a lower position with the formations I I I frictionally engaging the portions I I2 of the rolls I04, so that spinning of the rollers 94 is checked and they are at rest or substantially so when the friction member I06 engages the rolls I04 on the forward stroke of the bed.

While I have described and shown the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a plurality of form inking rollers at one side of the cylinder, of supporting means for said rollers adapted to permit movement of a portion of said rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position independently of the remainder of said rollers, and means operated in timed relation with reciprocation of the bed for actuating said portion into and out of form contacting position and adapted to contact said portion with only the trailing portion of a form on the bed during the stroke of the bed in the direction from the cylinder toward said form rollers, said portion contacting a portion of the form not contacted by said remainder and also overlapping therewith in its contact with the form.

2. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a plurality of form inking rollers at the rear side of the cylinder, of supporting means for said rollers adapted to permit movement of a portion of said rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position independently of the remainder of said rollers, and means operated in timed relation with reciprocation of the bed for actuating said portion into and out of form contacting position and adapted to contact said por-' tion with only the trailing portion of a form on the bed during the stroke of the bed in the direction from the cylinder toward said form rollers and to maintain said portion in form contacting position during movement of the form thereunder on the opposite stroke of the bed.

3. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printpress the combination with separate groups of form inking and associated distributor rollers at one side of the cylinder, of means operated in timed relation with the press mechanism for periodically charging the distributor rollers of said groups remote from said form rollers, of supporting means for said rollers adapted to permit movement of the group portion of said form rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position independently of the remainder of said form rollers while maintaining distributor roller contact, and means operated in timed relation with reciprocation of the bed for actuating said group portion of said form rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position and adapted to contact said portion with only the trailing portion of a form on the bed during the stroke of the bed in the direction from the cylinder toward said form rollers and to maintain said group portion in form contacting position during movement of the form thereunder on the opposite stroke of the bed.

i. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with separate groups of form and associated distributor rollers disposed at the rear of the cylinder, the group adjacent the cylinder including but one form roller and the other group including at least two form rollers, the group adjacent the cylinder including a proportionately greater distributor roller capacity relative to the number of form rollers in said groups, of means operated in timed relation with the press mechanism for periodically charging the distributor rollers of said groups remote from said form rollers, supporting means for said rollers adapted to permit movement of said roller adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position independently of the remainder of said form rollers while maintaining distributor roller contact, and means operated in timed relation with reciprocation of the bed for actuating said form roller adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position and adapted to contact said form roller with only the trailing portion of a form on the bed during the stroke of the bed in the direction from the cylinder toward said form rollers and to maintain said form roller in form contacting position during movement of the form thereunder on the opposite stroke of the bed.

5. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with separate groups of form and associated distributor rollers at one side of the cylinder and driven with the bed, of ink roller means movable into and out of position to connect and charge the distributor rollers of said groups remote from said form rollers, and means operated in timed relationwith the bed for periodically actuating said ink roller means into position to connect and charge said distributor rollers.

6. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with separate groups of form and associated distributor rollers at the rear side of the cylinder and driven with the bed,

of supporting means for said rollers adapted to permit movement of the group portion of said form rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position independently of the remainder of said form rollers while maintaining distributor roller contact, means operated in timed relation with reciprocation of the bed for actuating said group portion of said form rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position and adapted to contact said portion with only the trailing portion of a form on the bed during the rearward stroke of the bed and to maintain said portion in form contacting position during forward movement of the form thereunder, ink roller means movable into and out of position to connect and charge the distributor rollers of said groups remote from said form rollers, and means operated in timed relation with the bed for periodically actuating said ink roller means into position to connect and charge said distributor rollers.

7. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a plurality of form rollers at one side of the cylinder, of a form roller frame carrying said form rollers and movable to position said form rollers out of form contacting position,means operated in timed relationwiththe bed whereby a portion of said form rollers adjacent the cylinder is periodically moved into and out of form contacting position, independently of the remainder of said form rollers, and means operated in timed relation with the bed and operative upon said frame for positioning all of said form rollers out of form contacting position during the reversal of the bed at the end of the stroke thereof during which the bed underlies said rollers.

8. In a printing press the combination with a plurality of form inking rollers, of means for independently operating a portion and all of said form rollers into and out of form contacting position in timed relation with the press including a member operative in one direction to move said portion of said form rollers out of form contacting position, independently of the remainder of said form rollers, and operative in the other direction to move all of said form rollers out of form contacting position.

9. In a printing press the combination with a plurality of form inking rollers, of cam means operated in timed relation with the press mechanism, a member actuated alternately in opposite directions by said cam means, means whereby movement of said actuated member in one direction from an intermediate point in its movement moves all of said form rollers out of form contacting position, and means whereby movement of said actuated member in the other direction from said intermediate point moves a portion of said form rollers out of form contacting position independently of the remainder of said form rollers.

10. In a printing press the combination with a plurality of form inking rollers and a form roller frame carrying the same for movement into and out of form contacting position and yieldably urged into form contacting position, of revoluble cam means operated in timed relation with the press mechanism, a member actuated alternately in opposite directions by said cam means, one way operating means whereby movement of said actuated member in one direction from an intermediate point in its movement moves said frame out of form contacting position, and means whereby movement of said actuated member in the other direction from said intermediate point moves a portion of said form rollers out of form contacting position and returns the same to form contacting position upon return to said intermediate point.

11. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a plurality of form inking rollers at one side of the cylinder, of means for independently operating a portion of said rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position to initially contact the trailing portion of the form in its movement in the direction from the cylinder toward said form rollers and for positioning all of said rollers out of form contacting position at the corresponding reversal of the bed including two revoluble cams operated in timed relation with the press mechanism and means whereby one of said cams is angularly adjustable with reference to the press mechanism to vary the time when said portion of said form rollers is moved into form contacting position.

12. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a plurality of form inking rollers at one side of the cylinder, means for charging said form rollers, supporting means for said rollers adapted to permit movement of a portion of said rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position independently of the remainder of said rollers, means operated in timed relation with the press mechanism for actuating said portion into and out of form contacting position and adapted to initially contact said portion with an intermediate portion of a form on the press, and at least one additional form roller on the other side of the cylinder and contacting said form.

13. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder print-- ing press the combination with separate groups of form inking and associated distributor rollers at the rear side of the cylinder, of supporting means for said form rollers adapted to permit movement of the group portion of said form rollers adjacent the cylinder to move into and out of form contacting position independently of the remainder of said form rollers while maintaining distributor roller contact, means operated in timed relation with the press mechanism for periodically charging the distributor rollers of said groups remote from said form rollers, means operated in timed relation with reciprocation of the bed for actuating said group portion of said form rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position and adapted to contact said portion with only the trailing portion of a form on the bed during the rearward stroke of the bed and to maintain said group portion in form contacting position during movement of the form thereunder on the forward stroke of the bed, and at least one additional form roller at the front side of the cylinder and contacting said form.

14. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with separate groups of form inking and associated distributor rollers disposed at the rear of the cylinder, of supporting means for said form rollers adapted to permit movement of the group portion of said form rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of form contacting position independently of the remainder of said form rollers while maintaining distributor roller contact, means operated in timed relation with the press mechanism for periodically charging the distributor rollers of said groups remotefrom said form rollers, means operated in timed relation with reciprocation of the bed for actuating said group portion of said form rollers adjacent the cylinder into and out of contacting position during movement of the form thereunder on the forward stroke of the bed, at least one additional form roller at the front side of the cylinder and contacting said form, and an ink plate carried by the bed at the front end of the form for contact by said additional form roller.

15. In a printing press the combination of separate groups of form and associated distributor ink rollers, ink roller means for periodically connecting distributor rollers of said groups remote from the form rollers thereof, and an ink fountain ductor roller periodically contacting said ink roller means and when said ink roller means is connecting the distributor rollers of said groups.

16. In a printing press the combination of separate groups of form and associated distributor ink rollers, an ink roller of relatively small diameter continuously in contact with a distributor roller of one of said groups remote from a form roller thereof and periodically contacting a distributor roller of the other groups remote from a form roller thereof to connect said groups, said other group including a distributor roller of relatively small diameter remote from a form roller thereof, and an ink fountain ductor roller periodically contacting said first mentioned ink roller while it is contacting a distributor of said other group.

17. In a printing press the combination of separate groups of form and associated distributor ink rollers, one group including one form roller, a distributor roller contacting this form roller, a pair of distributor rollers contacting this distributor roller and a fourth distributor roller of relatively small diameter contacting one of said pair of distributor rollers, the other group including two form rollers, a distributor roller contacting both thereof, and another distributor contacting this distributor roller, an additional ink roller continuously in contact with said last mentioned distributor roller and periodically contacting the other of said pair of distributor rollers of the first mentioned group to connect said groups, and an ink fountain ductor roller periodically contacting said additional roller while it is contacting said other of said pair.

18. In a printing press the combination with separate groups of form and associated distributor rollers, of means for connecting and charging distributor rollers of said groups remote from the form rollers thereof, and an additional distributor roller contacting only a form roller of one of said groups on the side thereof distant from the other group.

19. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with separate groups of form and associated distributor rollers on the rear side of the cylinder, of means for periodically connecting and charging distributor rollers of said groups remote from the form rollers thereof, and an additional distributor roller contacting a form roller of the rear group on the rear side thereof.

20. In a printing press the combination with separate groups of form inking and associated distributor rollers, of an ink roller in continuous contact with a distributor roller of one of said groups and yieldably urged out of contact with a distributor roller of the other group remote from the form rollers of said groups, and an ink fountain ductor roller periodically contacting said ink roller and moving it into contact with said second mentioned distributor roller.

21. In a printing press the combination with a group of ink rollers, of pivoted arms carrying one of said rollers for positioning this roller in contact with a second roller or with a third roller upon removal of said second roller, and releasable means for positioning said arms with said first mentioned roller contacting one of said second and third rollers.

22. In a printing press the combination with a plurality of ink rollers, of a pivotally mounted shaft disposed parallel thereto, arms secured on said shaft and carrying one of said rollers for movement into and out of contact with a second roller, additional arms pivoted on said rock shaft and carrying a third roller for movement to contact a fourth roller or said second roller upon removal of said fourth roller, and releasable means for securing said additional arms in positions with said third roller contacting said fourth or third roller.

23. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a form inking roller unit normally adjacent the cylinder, of arms carrying said unit and extending downwardly at opposite sides of the bed, a pivot bearing for said arms and spaced downwardly from the plane of the bed and disposed in a transverse vertical plane in the region of the outer end of the bed when the bed is at the end of its movement in which it underlies the normal position of said unit whereby said unit is movable to a tilted position adjacent said outer end of the bed.

24. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with an inking device normally adjacent the front side of the cylinder, of means whereby said device is movable out of its normal position to a position forwardly of its normal position, and a sheet conveyor structure normally extending forwardly from the cylinder and above said inking device and mounted for movement upwardly out of its normal position.

25. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a form inking roller unit normally adjacent the front side of the cylinder, of means whereby said unit is pivotally movable on a downwardly disposed axis to a position adjacent the front end of the bed when the bed is at the front end of its movement, and a sheet conveyor structure normally extending forwardly from the cylinder and above said unit and mounted for pivotal movement at one end thereof upwardly out of its normal position.

26. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with two form inking roller units disposed on opposite sides of the cylinder and an ink fountain and ductor roller for supplying ink to the unit at the rear of the cylinder, of means whereby the unit at the front of the cylinder is pivotally movable forwardly from its inking position on a downwardly disposed axis, and a sheet conveyor structure normally extending forwardly from the cylinder and above said front unit and mounted for pivotal movement at one end thereof upwardly out of its normal position.

' ROBERT MIEHLE. 

